The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-15
ACROSS THE coNTINENr on BICYCLE.
MIR. Neliis's Experiences . Ride Across
Country of Over 5000 Miles.

Country of Over 1000 Miles.
New York Sun.
steamer Newport yesterday. was Mr. George
w. Nellis jr. Mr.. Nellis has achieved distinc-
ton among the wheelmen of the nation by rid
ing 52-inch bicycle from Herkimer. in rhis
State to San Francisco in thirty days less time
than MIR. Thomas Stevens required for the same
journey.
is editor of the Gazette. He was accustomed
before he started on his long journey to run ur
and down the roads Of Central New York from
fifty to one hundred miles at q stretch, and,
ever since Stevens crossed the continent, had
been anxious to make tho trip. On Tuesday.
May "A. at O'Clock in the morning, with about
two hundred Of the young viilagers around him
wheel near tho New York Central depot in
Herkimer and headed west along the old stage
road over which passengers used to ride from
Buffalo to Albany Mr. G. p. Avery, another
Herkimer wheelman, won't along as far as
Niagara Falls
The FIRST days run was forty six miles to Cam
astota, where the tourists we're delayed one day
by rain. On Thursday he ran ffty-one miles to
Auburn, and the next day fifty-one miles to East
Bloomfield. Then they ran seventy miles to
Medina, and the next day reached Niagara
Falls. The road every where tip-top. On
Decoration day Mr. Neis ran his wheel across
the Suspension bridge with number of ASSOC
ciates. He was astouished TO find that the Cam
adam customs officials would not stop him and
make him give bond that his wheel was simply
in transit for Detroit When he got to Detroit
he had a lot or trouble to convince the American
officials that be was not smuggling foreign
bicycle into the United States. although the
wheel was plainly of American make.
The roads in Canada were bad, the worst he
found east of the uncivzed parts of tho United
States but in no place was travelling 80 cheap
except among the ranchmen.
Nebraska is described the paradise for
wheeimen The route led along the Platte river,
and it was as level and comfortable as If made to
order He commonly made seventy miles day,
but on July % he ran from Shelton to Gothen-
I'M a fafa nf aphf villa Thav ,oxt
day after this run he whrled his wheel aloug
over forty-four miles wfthout6ismounting Then
he got caught in rain, and had to walk thirty
two miles further before he got to place wherG
he could get bed for the night.
In Nevada and thence through the mountains
he had some pretty rough experiences. He fol-
lowed the line of the Pacific railroad, and usu-
ally had to walk fifty miles for every ten he
could ride. Nine miles this side of Tacoma he
noticed little black cloud in the west, but paid
no attention to it at the moment But ten min
utes later he lifted off the track by the force
of a dust-laden blast that landed him, fortu-
nately. safe and sound half way down the bank
of dry creek that ran beside the railroad.
Finding himself sheltered from the wind. he
stayed there. In fifteen minutes the rain that
flooded down had made roaring torrent of the
hitherto dry creek bed. 1t all over in
twenty minutes, but Mr.. Neilis had not a dry
rag on him.
San Francisco was reached on Aug g. The
whole distance covered was 1869 miles. He
reached the Pacific somewhat the for
wear. The seat of his trousers had been patched
by the waysde more substantially than deftly,
his coat was torn across. and his helmet much
the worse for his numerous headers; but the
welcome OF the San Francisco wheelmen could
no. have been hearty if he had been
clothed in purple and fine linen. He had carried
his entire kit in 5x9nch erirsack dashed to
the bar Of his wheel. His expenses for seventy
one days averaged just So day.
Mr.. Nellis returned East by the way of the
isthmus, but from New York he will go to
Herkimer on his wheel. leaving this afternoon,
30 that he may truthfuliy ssay that he has
wheeled it across the entire continent
Mr.. Nellis is twenty-five years old. He weighed
l491 pounds when he left home, and he lest
twenty-three pounds en- route.